The sequin is a gold coin weighing 3.5 grams of .986 gold, minted by the Republic of Venice from the 13th century onwards.
The design of the Venetian gold ducat, or zecchino, remained unchanged for over 500 years, from its introduction in 1284 to the takeover of Venice by Napoleon in 1797. No other coin design has ever been produced over such a long historical period. The 500-year run of the zecchino is unique in history.
The reverse bears a motto in Latin hexameter: Sit tibi, Christe, datus || quem tū regis, iste ducātus.
Initially called "ducat", for the ruling Doge of Venice who was prominently depicted on it, it was called the zecchino after the Zecca of Venice, since 1543 when Venice began minting a silver coin also called a ducat. The name of the mint ultimately derives from Arabic sikka, meaning a coin mould or die.
In some regions, in later centuries, these type of coins were stitched to women's clothing such as headdresses - this eventually led to the origin of the more modern word "sequins" to denote small shiny, circular decorations. Following the Venetian model, similar coins were used for centuries throughout the Mediterranean.
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The sequin is a gold coin weighing 3.5 grams of .986 gold, minted by the Republic of Venice from...
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The sequin is a gold coin weighing 3.5 grams of .986 gold, minted by the Republic of Venice from the 13th century onwards.
The design of the Venetian gold ducat, or zecchino, remained unchanged for over 500 years, from its introduction in 1284 to the takeover of Venice by Napoleon in 1797. No other coin design has ever been produced over such a long historical period. The 500-year run of the zecchino is unique in history.
The reverse bears a motto in Latin hexameter: Sit tibi, Christe, datus || quem tū regis, iste ducātus.
Initially called "ducat", for the ruling Doge of Venice who was prominently depicted on it, it was called the zecchino after the Zecca of Venice, since 1543 when Venice began minting a silver coin also called a ducat. The name of the mint ultimately derives from Arabic sikka, meaning a coin mould or die.
In some regions, in later centuries, these type of coins were stitched to women's clothing such as headdresses - this eventually led to the origin of the more modern word "sequins" to denote small shiny, circular decorations. Following the Venetian model, similar coins were used for centuries throughout the Mediterranean.